“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NASB)
In everything give thanks. That’s a hard one. Everything? I don’t know about you, but I find there is a lot of things that can deeply upset me. I can see the blatant evil of this world. It angers me. I can see the subtle evil that offers salvation without repentance or worse yet, burdens the hearer with more than they can bare. That bothers me deeply, for I can’t stop them from being misled. I can’t call out the lies so that everyone will know. How can I be thankful? I must believe that what I see is God’s will for me. I can stay frustrated and angry and wounded, or I can pray.
Today is Thanksgiving Day in my country where even the poor will have plenty on their table. Long lines did not deter the ones who needed food. Not so in most of the world. Want and suffering are the courses for their table. How can I be thankful when I know the stories of those I can’t help? Lots of emotions to cripple me, or I can pray. This too is God’s will for me. I’m thankful that God provides according to our needs.
In every situation there is always something God intends for our good. That Knowledge empowers us to give thanks to our Creator in spite of the evil that we see. I’m going to spend the rest of this Thanksgiving Day Joyfully giving thanks to God for His will for me. Hope you will do the same.
His Family Table 